Correctional Officers and Jailers pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,250 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,790 or more. The middle half of correctional officers and jailers in Memphis earn between $49,560 and $62,790.
- $40K10th
- $50K25th
- $53KMedian
- $63K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $54,710 | $4,559 | $26.30 |
| Median | $53,210 | $4,434 | $25.58 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,560 | $4,130 | $23.83 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $62,790 | $5,232 | $30.19 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Correctional Officers and Jailers pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Correctional officers and jailers in Memphis earn 6% more than the Tennessee average ($51,420) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $58,940.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $54,710 | $53,210 | $40,250 | $62,790 | 1,370 |
| Tennessee | $51,420 | $50,940 | $38,690 | $62,790 | 6,990 |
| United States | $63,630 | $58,940 | $42,760 | $93,220 | 380,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Correctional Officers and Jailers salary after taxes in Memphis
On the average salary of $54,710, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $46,139 a year, or $3,845 a month and $1,775 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $46,139 | $3,845 |
| Working in MS | $44,683 | $3,724 |
| Working in AR | $44,602 | $3,717 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for correctional officers and jailers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $54,710 buys what about $59,352 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Correctional Officers and Jailers salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 1st of 9 Tennessee metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Memphis$54,710
- Nashville$52,210
- Knoxville$51,340
- Kingsport$49,760
- Chattanooga$48,930
- Jackson$48,230
- Clarksville$42,310
- Morristown$41,660
- Johnson City$39,040
Highest-paying cities for correctional officers and jailers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($126,290).
- San Jose, CA$126,290
- San Luis Obispo, CA$102,510
- Salinas, CA$99,160
- San Francisco, CA$97,620
- Bakersfield, CA$96,930
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Correctional Officers and Jailers salary in Memphis: questions
How much do correctional officers and jailers make an hour in Memphis?
$26.30 an hour on average, and $25.58 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level correctional officers and jailers salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,250 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,560, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the correctional officers and jailers take-home pay in Memphis?
About $46,139 a year ($3,845 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $54,710. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do correctional officers and jailers earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($63,630).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-3012; area Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.92, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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